UNODA – United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs
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SPOTLIGHT

See the top, latest stories and events coming from UNODA.

08 Apr 2021

Message by the High Representative ahead of the Global Days of Action on Military Spending

07 Apr 2021

UNODA & Kenya’s NACOSTI host virtual workshop on confidence-building measures under the Biological Weapons Convention

07 Apr 2021

UN SaferGuard Quick Response Mechanism provides ammunition technical support to Equatorial Guinea after explosions

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UPDATES

UNODA, Kenya discuss confidence-building measures under Biological Weapons Convention

On 1 April 2021, the Implementation Support Unit (ISU) of the Biological Weapons Convention (BWC) and Kenya’s National Commission for Science, Technology and Innovation (NACOSTI) co-hosted an online workshop on confidence-building measures under the BWC.  Confidence-building measures (CBMs) are designed to prevent or reduce the occurrence of ambiguities, doubts and suspicions and to improve international cooperation in […]

On 1 April 2021, the Implementation Support Unit (ISU) of the Biological Weapons Convention (BWC) and Kenya’s National Commission for Science, Technology and Innovation (NACOSTI) co-hosted an online workshop on confidence-building...

UN SaferGuard Quick Response Mechanism provides ammunition technical support to Equatorial Guinea after explosions

On 7 March 2021, a series of explosions occurred at a military camp located in Bata, the largest city of Equatorial Guinea. More than 100 people died and over...

UNODA launches “Disarmament4Educators” online training course

The United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA) kicked off an online “Disarmament4Educators” training course on 8 March, bringing together academic professors and educators from Bangladesh, Myanmar, Nepal, the Philippines and...

Young Scientists from the Global South Join the Second Edition of the Youth for Biosecurity Workshop

As the world grapples with COVID-19 for a second year, the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs and the Biological Weapons Convention Implementation Support Unit (ISU) are also pushing to bolster global capacities...

UNODA convenes a regional workshop on achieving universalization of the Biological Weapons Convention in Africa

The Biological Weapons Convention (BWC) was the first multilateral disarmament treaty banning an entire category of weapons of mass destruction (WMD). It has reached almost universal adherence with only...

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OUR WORK

The main units of the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs.

Weapons of Mass Destruction
Support to multilateral disarmament and non-proliferation efforts with respect to weapons of mass destruction (WMD).

Conventional Arms
Focusing disarmament and arms control efforts on all weapons not considered WMD, including small arms and light weapons (SALW).

Regional Disarmament
The enhancement of global disarmament and international peace and security through the support and promotion of regional disarmament efforts.

Transparency and Confidence-building
Confidence building measures are meant to prevent or reduce the occurrence of ambiguities and suspicions to improve international cooperation in disarmament and arms control.

Other Disarmament Issues
Other disarmament issues include UNODA’s work in education, youth, gender, multilateralism, information security and outer space, among other areas.

EVENTS

See whats happening in UNODA.

April 14 - 17, 2020

WMO Building, Geneva

Working Group meetings and 2nd CSP6 Informal Preparatory Meeting ( Cancelled )

April 14 - 17, 2020

WMO Building, Geneva

Arms Trade Treaty Working Group meetings and 2nd CSP6 Informal Preparatory Meeting (Cancelled)

April 20 - 24, 2020

Virtual - Informal Sessions

Group of Governmental Experts on “Problems arising from the accumulation of conventional ammunition stockpiles in surplus”( Informal virtual sessions )

April 24 - 24, 2020

New York

Fourth Conference of Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zones and Mongolia (postponed to a period in 2021 to be decided by the General Assembly at its seventy-fifth session)

April 27 - May 22, 2020

New York

Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (postponed to a later date, as soon as the circumstances permit, but no later than April 2021)

May 4 - 8, 2020

Vienna, Austria

UNODA-OSCE Scholarship for Peace and Security: In-person course ( Postponed )

May 4 - 6, 2020

(Virtual) Vienna, Austria

IAEA: Board of Governors: Programme Budget Committee*

May 11 - 15, 2020

Vienna, Austria

CTBTO: Advisory Group, 54th session* (tent.)

May 19 - 21, 2020

Kathmandu, Nepal

Regional Seminar to Support the Implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1540 (2004) in South Asia ( Postponed )

May 26 - July 10, 2020

Virtual

Conference on Disarmament Part II. Presidency of the CD will be: Australia (16 March- 5 June), Austria (8 June- 3 July), Bangladesh (6 July- 21 August).

May 27 - 29, 2020

Colombo, Sri Lanka

Technical and Legal Assistance Project to Support Sri Lanka in the Implementation of the UN Programme of Action on SALW: Final Briefing Visit ( TBD )

June 1 - 3, 2020

Vienna, Austria

CTBTO: Working Group A, 57th session* (tent.)

June 3 - 6, 2020

Vienna, Austria

Austrian Government: Hague Code of Conduct against Ballistic Missile Proliferation, 19th Regular Meeting*

June 3 - 3, 2020

(Virtual) Vienna, Austria

Virtual Briefing for States members of the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space

June 15 - 19, 2020

Seventh Biennial Meeting of States on the Programme of Action

June 15 - 25, 2020

Virtual Meeting

74th Session of the Secretary General’s Advisory Board on Disarmament Matters. (Actual meeting dates – 15, 19, 24, 25 June 2020)

June 15 - 19, 2020

(Virtual) Vienna, Austria

IAEA: Board of Governors*

June 17 - 26, 2020

Vienna, Austria

OOSA: Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space, 63rd session (Postponed)

June 22 - 26, 2020

Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons related to emerging technologies in the area of lethal autonomous weapons systems (LAWS). Dates changed to Monday- Friday, 21-25 September 2020

June 22 - 26, 2020

Virtual Meeting

Responsible Innovation Virtual Workshops with students from Nanyang Technological University, National University of Singapore, and Singapore University of Technology and Design, under the Responsible Innovation for a Secure Environment in Asia and the Pacific (RISE-AP) project

June 25 - 26, 2020

Vienna, Austria

CTBTO: Preparatory Commission, 54th session*

June 29 - 29, 2020

First Preparatory Meeting of the Second Review Conference of States Parties to the Convention on Cluster Munitions

June 30 - July 1, 2020

Dhaka, Bangladesh

Bangladesh national interagency roundtable meeting to support implementation of UNSCR 1540 (2004)- (TBD)

July 6 - 10, 2020

New York

Final Substantive Session of the Open-ended Working Group on Developments in the Field of Information and Telecommunications in the Context of International Security (Postponed)

July 6 - 8, 2020

Dili, Timor-Leste

In-country training programme in support of gender mainstreamed policy on small arms control: First round scheduled ( TBD )

July 7 - 10, 2020

The Hague

Ninety-Fourth-Session of the OPCW Executive Council

July 20 - 24, 2020

New York

Group of Governmental Experts on “Problems arising from the accumulation of conventional ammunition stockpiles in surplus” (Postponed)

August 3 - September 18, 2020

Bangladesh (6 July- 21 August), Belarus (24 August- 18 September)

Conference on Disarmament Part III

August 4 - September 4, 2020

Vienna, Austria

CTBTO: Working Group B, 55th session*

August 10 - 14, 2020

Postponed

Group of Governmental Experts on emerging technologies in the area of lethal autonomous weapons systems (GGE LAWS) of the High Contracting Parties to the Convention on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use of Certain Conventional Weapons Which May Be Deemed to Be Excessively Injurious or to Have Indiscriminate Effects (CCW) – Session 1

August 17 - 21, 2020

CICG, Geneva

Sixth Conference of States Parties to the ATT (CSP6)

August 17 - 21, 2020

Through written procedure

Sixth Conference on States Parties to the Arms Trade Treaty

August 17 - 21, 2020

Geneva

Third Substantive Session of the Group of Governmental Experts on Advancing Responsible State Behaviour in Cyberspace in the Context of International Security

August 25 - September 3, 2020

Meetings of Experts of the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production and Stockpiling of Bacteriological (Biological) and Toxin Weapons and on Their Destruction (‘Biological Weapons Convention’)

August 29 - 29, 2020

International Day Against Nuclear Tests ( TBD )

September 1 - 30, 2020

New York

Tenth Ministerial Meeting of the Friends of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) – TBD

September 4 - 4, 2020

Second Preparatory Meeting of the Second Review Conference of States Parties to the Convention on Cluster Munitions

September 21 - 25, 2020

Geneva

Group of Governmental Experts on emerging technologies in the area of lethal autonomous weapons systems (GGE LAWS) of the High Contracting Parties to the Convention on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use of Certain Conventional Weapons Which May Be Deemed to Be Excessively Injurious or to Have Indiscriminate Effects (CCW) – Session 2

September 26 - 26, 2020

International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons

September 28 - 28, 2020

Meeting of Experts of the High Contracting Parties to Protocol V on Explosive Remnants of War to the Convention on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use of Certain Conventional Weapons Which May Be Deemed to Be Excessively Injurious or to Have Indiscriminate Effects

September 29 - 30, 2020

Group of Experts of the High Contracting Parties to Amended Protocol II to the Convention on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use of Certain Conventional Weapons Which May Be Deemed to Be Excessively Injurious or to Have Indiscriminate Effects

October 2 - 2, 2020

International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons ( TBD )

October 6 - 9, 2020

The Hague

Ninety-Fifth-Session of the OPCW Executive Council

October 28 - 30, 2020

Vienna, Austria

CTBTO: Working Group A, 58th session* (tent.)

November 1 - 30, 2020

The Hague (TBC)

Twenty-Fifth Conference of the States Parties to the Chemical Weapons Convention

November 9 - 9, 2020

Fourteenth Conference of the High Contracting Parties to Protocol V on Explosive Remnants of War to the Convention on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use of Certain Conventional Weapons Which May Be Deemed to Be Excessively Injurious or to Have Indiscriminate Effects

November 10 - 10, 2020

World Science Day for Peace and Development

November 10 - 10, 2020

Twenty-second Conference of the High Contracting Parties to Amended Protocol II to the Convention on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use of Certain Conventional Weapons Which May Be Deemed to Be Excessively Injurious or to Have Indiscriminate Effects

November 11 - 13, 2020

Meeting of the High Contracting Parties to the Convention on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use of Certain Conventional Weapons Which May Be Deemed to Be Excessively Injurious or to Have Indiscriminate Effects

November 16 - 20, 2020

Eighteenth Meeting of States Parties to the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on their Destruction

November 16 - 20, 2020

New York

Conference on the Establishment of a Middle East Zone Free of Nuclear Weapons and Other Weapons of Mass Destruction. (Second Session)

November 16 - 18, 2020

Vienna, Austria

IAEA: Board of Governors: Technical Assistance and Cooperation Committee*

November 19 - 20, 2020

Vienna, Austria

IAEA: Board of Governors: Programme Budget Committee (closed meeting )

November 19 - 20, 2020

Vienna, Austria

IAEA: Board of Governors*

November 23 - 27, 2020

Second Review Conference of States Parties to the Convention on Cluster Munitions

November 25 - 27, 2020

Vienna, Austria

CTBTO: Preparatory Commission, 55th session ( closed meeting, tent. )

November 30 - December 4, 2020

The Hague

Twenty-Fifth Session of the Conference of the States Parties to the Chemical Weapons Convention

December 1 - 1, 2020

Virtual

Webinar Series to Strengthen the Implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1540 (2004) in South Asia and Mongolia

December 8 - 11, 2020

Meeting of States Parties to the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production and Stockpiling of Bacteriological (Biological) and Toxin Weapons and on Their Destruction

December 8 - 8, 2020

Virtual

Webinar Series to Strengthen the Implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1540 (2004) in South Asia and Mongolia

December 15 - 15, 2020

Virtual

Webinar Series to Strengthen the Implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1540 (2004) in South Asia and Mongolia

December 18 - 18, 2020

Virtual

Subscribing to the Hague Code of Conduct: opportunities and challenges for Asian States

January 1 - December 31, 2020

Fourth Conference on Nuclear Weapon-Free Zones and Mongolia – postponed to a period in 2021 to be decided by the General Assembly at its 75th Session

January 14 - 14, 2021

Vienna, VIC C-C3

OOSA: Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space, Scientific and Technical Subcommittee, 58th session: Briefing for Permanent Missions (p.m.)

January 18 - March 26, 2021

Geneva, Virtual/hybrid/in person formats

Conference on Disarmament – Part I

January 18 - March 26, 2021

Geneva

Conference on Disarmament. Part I

February 1 - 12, 2021

Vienna, VIC C-BR D

OOSA: Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space, Scientific and Technical Subcommittee, 58th session

February 4 - 5, 2021

Geneva, hybrid format

Convention on Cluster Munitions – Second Part of Second Review Conference of States Parties

February 4 - 5, 2021

Geneva

Convention on Cluster Munitions – Second Part of Second Review Conference of States Parties

February 8 - 10, 2021

Virtual

UNODA x University of Tokyo Responsible Innovation in AI and data workshops

February 16 - 19, 2021

Geneva, format TBD

Arms Trade Treaty – Working Group and First CSP7 Informal Preparatory Meetings

February 16 - 19, 2021

Geneva

Arms Trade Treaty – Working Group and First CSP7 Informal Preparatory Meetings

March 1 - 5, 2021

Vienna, VIC-M M Plenary

IAEA: Board of Governors*

March 8 - 12, 2021

Virtual

Responsible Innovation for a Secure Environment in Asia and the Pacific

March 8 - 19, 2021

Vienna, VIC C-BR C

CTBTO: Working Group B, 56th session* (tent.)

March 25 - 25, 2021

Vienna, VIC C-C3

OOSA: Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space: Briefing to Permanent Missions on the Legal Subcommittee, 60th session (p.m.)

March 29 - 31, 2021

Dili

In-Country Training Programme (ICTP) workshop on Gender mainstreaming small arms control in Timor-Leste

April 1 - 2, 2021

Dili

Training on development of a Timor-Leste national action plan (NAP), follow-up the ICTP workshop

April 11, 2021

Today

April 12 - 15, 2021

Geneva

Biological Weapons Convention – Meeting of States Parties (to be confirmed)

April 12 - 15, 2021

Geneva

Biological Weapons Convention – Meeting of States Parties (to be confirmed)

April 12 - 23, 2021

Vienna, VIC C-BR D, Online

OOSA: Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space: Legal Subcommittee Legal Subcommittee, 60th session

April 16 - 16, 2021

Geneva

Biological Weapons Convention – First Prep Committee for the Ninth Review Conference (to be confirmed)

April 16 - 16, 2021

Geneva

Biological Weapons Convention – First Prep Committee for the Ninth Review Conference (to be confirmed)

April 19 - 23, 2021

Geneva

Group of Governmental Experts on nuclear disarmament verification

April 19 - 23, 2021

Geneva

Group of Governmental Experts on nuclear disarmament verification

April 20 - 22, 2021

The Hague

Twenty-Fifth Conference of the States Parties to the Chemical Weapons Convention

April 26 - 30, 2021

Vienna, VIC C-BR D, Online

OOSA: 7th International Academy of Astronautics Planetary Defense Conference

April 28 - 29, 2021

Vienna, VIC C-BR C

Austrian Government: Hague Code of Conduct against Ballistic Missile Proliferation, 20th Regular Meeting*

May 4 - 6, 2021

Phnom Penh

In-Country Training Programme (ICTP) workshop on Gender mainstreaming small arms control in Cambodia

May 4 - 6, 2021

Vienna, VIC-M M Plenary

IAEA: Board of Governors: Programme and Budget Committee*

May 10 - 11, 2021

Luang Prabang

Lao PDR National workshop on main commitments of the UN Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in SALW in All Its Aspects, International Tracing Instruments and tools to support their implementation

May 10 - June 25, 2021

Geneva, Virtual/hybrid/in person formats

Conference on Disarmament – Part II

May 10 - June 25, 2021

Geneva

Conference on Disarmament. Part II

May 10 - 12, 2021

Vienna, VIC C-BR D

UNODC: Conference of Parties to the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime: Working Group on Firearms, 8th session*

May 12 - 14, 2021

Luang Prabang

In-Country Training Programme (ICTP) workshop on Gender mainstreaming small arms control in Laos

May 12 - 12, 2021

Vienna, VIC C-C3

OOSA: Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space, 64th session: Briefing for Permanent Missions

May 17 - 21, 2021

UNOG, Geneva

Group of Governmental Experts on ‘Problems arising from the accumulation of conventional ammunition stockpiles in surplus’

May 20 - 21, 2021

New York

Informal Consultative Meeting of the Group of Governmental Experts on Advancing Responsible State Behaviour in Cyberspace in the Context of International Security with all UN Member States

May 24 - 29, 2021

New York

Final Substantive Session of the Group of Governmental Experts on Advancing Responsible State Behaviour in Cyberspace in the Context of International Security

May 25 - 28, 2021

Geneva

Arms Trade Treaty – Working Group and Second CSP7 Informal Preparatory Meetings

May 25 - 28, 2021

Geneva

Arms Trade Treaty – Working Group and Second CSP7 Informal Preparatory Meetings

May 25 - 26, 2021

Vienna, VIC C-BR D, Online

UNODC: Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime, Working Group on International Cooperation, 12th session*

May 31 - June 4, 2021

Vienna, VIC C-BR C

CTBTO: Working Group A, 59th session* (tent.)

June 2 - 11, 2021

Vienna, VIC C-BR D

OOSA: Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space, 64th session

June 7 - 11, 2021

Vienna, VIC-M M Plenary

IAEA: Board of Governors*

June 21 - 25, 2021

Vienna, VIC C-BR C

CTBTO: Preparatory Commission for the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization, 56th session* (tent.)

June 21 - 25, 2021

Vienna, VIC C-C2

UNSCEAR: United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation, 68th session* (tent.)

June 22 - 24, 2021

Geneva

Anti-Personnel Landmines Convention – Intersessional meetings

June 26 - September 10, 2021

Geneva

Conference on Disarmament. Part III

July 26 - September 10, 2021

Geneva, Virtual/hybrid/in person formats

Conference on Disarmament – Part III

August 23 - September 3, 2021

Vienna, VIC C-BR C

CTBTO: Working Group B, 57th session* (tent.)

August 30 - September 3, 2021

Geneva

Arms Trade Treaty – Seventh Conference of States Parties

September 7 - 10, 2021

UNHQ, New York

Group of Governmental Experts on ‘Problems arising from the accumulation of conventional ammunition stockpiles in surplus’

September 13 - 17, 2021

Geneva

Biological Weapons Convention – Second Preparatory Committee for the Ninth Review Conference (to be confirmed)

September 13 - 17, 2021

Vienna, VIC C-BR C

IAEA: Board of Governors*

September 20 - 24, 2021

Vienna, VIC-M M Plenary

IAEA: General Conference, 65th session*

September 27 - 27, 2021

Vienna, VIC C-BR C

IAEA: Board of Governors*

October 18 - 22, 2021

Vienna, VIC C-BR C

CTBTO: Working Group A, 60th session* (tent.)

November 1 - 5, 2021

Geneva

Group of Governmental Experts on nuclear disarmament verification

November 8 - 26, 2021

Geneva

Biological Weapons Convention – Ninth Review Conference

November 10 - 12, 2021

Vienna, VIC C-BR C

CTBTO: Preparatory Commission for the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization Preparatory Commission, 57th session* (tent.)

November 15 - 19, 2021

Vienna, VIC-M M Plenary

IAEA: Board of Governors (including the Technical Assistance and Cooperation Committee) *

November 28 - December 3, 2021

New York (in person)

Conference on the Establishment of a Middle East Zone Free of Nuclear Weapons and Other Weapons of Mass Destruction

November 29 - December 3, 2021

Noordwijk, Netherlands

Anti-Personnel Landmines Convention – 19th Meeting of States Parties

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